The March edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin opens with an article by Professor Ian Linden entitled ‘Solidarity in a Time of Global Crisis’ in which he suggests that “the creative power of the Spirit is at work, bringing the prophetic voices of women to bear.” He says, “Christians are called to be its head, heart and hands.”
Whilst President Trump plans lavish celebrations for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence on July 4, Pope Leo has announced an extensive tour of Italy this summer, arriving at the island of Lampedusa that same day. In a video message sent to the island in September, he spoke of a desire to visit and thanked local organizations who assist arriving migrants.
Brian O’Toole reports on the recent NJPN webinar “Shining a Light on Racism in England: From Lived Experience to Collective Action”. The consistent message throughout was clear: confronting racism is intrinsic to the Christian calling to love one’s neighbour and uphold human dignity. Also featured is an inspirational story of a close friendship between an Iman and a Rabbi in South Manchester who have given joint talks to dozens of schools in the area and have their own podcast, The Rabbi, the Imam and the Power of Dialogue (available on most platforms).
Many readers will remember the Kairos document of 2009 compiled by a group of Christian Palestinians which called for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land with a special reference to Gaza. In recognition of the current situation a new document has been issued: Kairos II: A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide. Links to both documents are given plus a link to several reports from a Pax Christi International Delegation to the Holy Land which took place in November2025.
Priests Against Genocide USA, part of a global network of 2,200 priests from 58 countries, along with 22 bishops, archbishops, and two cardinals have issued an open letter to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calling on Catholic leaders in the United States to speak with moral clarity regarding President Trump’s convening of the ‘Board of Peace’ on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The group warns that the initiative risks side-lining Palestinian voices and legitimizing ongoing injustice amid the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In an article first published in The Church Times, James Gordon Reid Haveloch-Jones argues that Assisted Dying would commodify death and asks that dignity be extended to all.
There’s a packed diary with several upcoming Pax Christi events and also seasonal resources, including a poem from Rev’d Jon Swales and a Stations of the Cross to download in an easy to print A4 format.
Please pass the bulletin on to others who may be interested.
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin March 2026
A national webinar hosted by the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) has urged Christians to move beyond reflection to concrete action in confronting racism in England, grounding anti-racism firmly in Gospel discipleship and Christian hope.
The online event, “Shining a Light on Racism in England: From Lived Experience to Collective Action,” brought together church leaders, theologians, campaigners and community practitioners just days before Racial Justice Sunday. It formed part of a wider ecumenical call for renewed commitment to racial justice under this year’s theme, “Love Your Neighbour.”
Opening the evening, NJPN Chair Anne Peacey welcomed participants and stressed that racism in the UK remains a present and structural reality, affecting employment, education, housing, healthcare and the criminal justice system. It is expressed not only through overt hostility but also through patterns of exclusion and everyday “othering.”
The webinar combined lived experience, theological reflection and practical challenge, creating space for what Brian O’ Toole as moderator described as both honest encounter and purposeful response.
Dr Beverley Prevatt Goldstein — academic, historian and long-standing anti-racism advocate — spoke from both personal and professional experience. Born in Trinidad, she was among the first Black women from a mainstream British school to enter Oxford University in 1968. Her decades of work have focused on challenging monocultural narratives and recovering the long history and contribution of African communities in the North of England.
She stressed that at the end of “shining a light” there must be action and consequence. Awareness alone is not enough. She urged Christians not merely to “understand” racism but to “overstand” it — to go deeper than intellectual acknowledgement toward moral clarity and committed response. Racism, she said, must be named truthfully in all its forms and not softened by language that diminishes its reality. She cautioned against the casual use of the term “micro-aggression” where what is experienced is, in fact, racism.
Dr Prevatt Goldstein highlighted the importance of encounter, recalling a sermon that began simply with an invitation to talk and listen. Genuine encounter, she suggested, remains one of the most powerful tools for change. “We are all part of the one human race,” she reminded participants, despite belonging to many overlapping groups and identities.
She encouraged participants not to avoid difficult conversations in their parishes and communities. “Too many people know racism, live racism and feel it,” she noted, adding that allyship is essential because there must be a gathered and collective reaction to the outrage of racism. Persistent love, she said, remains a force capable of overcoming it — but only if it is active and organised. Attending a webinar, she warned, is not the work; it must lead to what follows.
The second keynote speaker, Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, addressed racism in the context of migration, asylum and public discourse. He spoke candidly about the social and political climate, arguing that progress on racial justice has stalled and, in some respects, reversed over the past two decades.
He warned that political rhetoric increasingly presents toughness toward migrants, refugees and asylum seekers as strength, while portraying compassion as weakness. Such narratives, he said, distort both social reality and Christian teaching. For the Church, anti-racism is not optional but integral to discipleship and public witness.
Mr Reddie, who has helped develop national Racial Justice Sunday resources, suggested that racial justice should not be confined to one Sunday each year but embedded in the Church’s weekly life. Christians, he said, are called to be “justice seekers” whose actions are intentional and prophetic, not merely rhetorical.
He challenged participants to carry forward three questions — the “3 Rs” — after leaving the comfort of the webinar: What will you remember? How will you reflect? How will you respond?
Participants then moved into breakout groups to consider a practical question: how they could “shine a light on racism” in their own local contexts during the coming year. Feedback highlighted the need for deeper listening, parish-level education, stronger allyship, and partnerships with communities directly affected by racism.
Reflective feedback framed the evening, emphasising that Christian hope is not passive but transformative. Beverley reminded us that activity does not amount to transformation unless it redistributes power, shifts risk and interrupts harm.
The consistent message throughout was clear: confronting racism is intrinsic to the Christian calling to love one’s neighbour and uphold human dignity. Churches were urged not only to speak but to act — with courage, persistence and hope as we strive to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with our God.
Brian O’ Toole
February 6th 2026
The NJPN Environment Group had their 81st meeting, via Zoom, on the 25th November 2025,
Below you can download the notes from the meeting;
NJPN ENV Gp 81st meeting 25 November 2025
Dear friends
Just as I about to mail the February NW NJPN E -Bulletin a stirring speech from Canada’s Mark Carney to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos popped into my inbox, so this is our leading article. Let’s hope other figures on the word stage will be inspired by his words.
In recent times one of the key issues seems to be the disintegration of community spirit – the notion that it’s ok to act in one’s own best interests regardless of the impact on the less powerful, a morality (or rather lack of) that decrees might is power. So, it was heartening to read Elizabeth Oldfield’s essay inviting us to make 2026 the year of neighbouring, to go back to a simpler life-style that celebrates love of neighbour. Jon Swales’ poem echoes this theme, speaking to the value of simple gestures that can mean so much. Articles on pages 6-7 explore religious and political shifts in the UK including the rise of Christian Nationalism which builds on an ‘us against them’ stance and is often associated with open racism and xenophobia.
In a members’ blog (page 9), Pax Christi National Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton reminds us: “As the Jubilee of Hope closes, Pope Leo XIV calls the Church to be weavers of hope.” May that be our prayer and our guide in these troubled times.
We have resources from Caritas Salford for Racial Justice Sunday (8 Feb) on page 9 and an invitation on page 10 to ‘Shining a Light on Racism in England: from lived experience to collective action’, an NJPN live webinar and conversation of faith, witness, & action on Thursday 5 February, 7.30pm – 9pm.
Sadly, President Trump continues to dominate the news – there are articles on pages 11-15: theologian James Gordon Reid Haveloch-Jones writes: ‘Micah’s ancient command still speaks with prophetic clarity: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”’ (Micah 6:8) in an op ed entitled ‘Justice and the Prince of Peace: a Christian witness against tyranny’; Three Cardinals issue rare joint statement on the morality of US foreign policy and the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, Rev. Rob Hirschfeld, speaks out against the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. Professor Ian Linden comments on the Israeli Government’s recent decision to ban 37 humanitarian NGOs from Gaza, including internationally respected Médecins sans Frontières.
This packed edition also contains CAFOD Campaign News from around the North West and a range of resources for Lent plus diary dates.
Please read and pass on to others.
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin February 2026
Thursday 5 February 2026
7.30 – 9.00 pm (UK time)
Online via Zoom
A Public Webinar hosted by the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN)
From Lived Experience to Collective Action
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Beverley Prevatt Goldstein: Distinguished academic, community activist, and pioneering advocate for racial equality in the North East of England. Born in Trinidad, she made history in 1968 as one of the first Black women to enroll at Oxford University from a mainstream British school before pursuing a prolific career in social work and education. She is the former chair of the North East of England African Community Association (NEEACA) and her lifelong commitment to anti-racism was honoured with an honorary doctorate from Northumbria University.
Richard Reddie: Prominent British author, researcher, and broadcaster specializing in racial justice and the intersection of faith and culture. He serves as the Director of Justice and Inclusion at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), where he oversees initiatives related to racial justice, migration, and refugees. He is a frequent commentator on the legacy of the Windrush generation and the murder of Stephen Lawrence, often advocating for the Church to act as a “prophetic voice” in the public square.
Why this webinar?
Racism in England remains a real and ongoing injustice.
Despite strong equality laws, evidence shows that racism continues to shape lives through:
Racism today is often subtle, denied, or minimised — but its impact is real.
This webinar creates space to name the reality of racism, reflect on its roots and consequences, and explore how we can act together for justice.
Remember to register HERE
Click here to download the poster – Shining a Light on Racism in England – Webinar
Anne O’Connor has once again produced a wonderful selection of resources for Lent 2026!
This year’s resources for Lent include a new Stations of the Cross for Young People suitable for schools, youth groups and Confirmation as well as a Stations of the Cross for parish use. There’s a 4 page A4 sheet with reflections and prayers from the start of Lent up to Holy Week plus an updated version of The Prince, an Easter story.
Stations of the Cross for Young People
Stations of the Cross with opening and closing prayers 2026 [AOC]
2026 A JOURNEY FROM LENT TO EASTER NJPN
The Spring 2026 NJPN Newsletter is available to read now,
This edition looks at a range of topics, including nuclear weapons, the 2026 NJPN conference, the year ahead, and the future of NJPN,
Feel free to share with anyone who may be interested,
NJPN would like to thank the Columbans for handling the mailing of our newsletter with Vocation for Justice for many years.
With the increasing cost of postage and the advances of electronic media the Columbans have taken the decision to move to an online newsletter.
Our newsletter will continue to be produced on a regular basis, and will be featured on our website as usual, but if you wish to sign up to receive the newsletter by email please contact
admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
Dear Friends,
The above quote is one of my favourites, and has cropped up in
various places in this holy season, including a Christmas card sent
from my friends at Journey to 2030. To me, this indicates a clear
message to me personally, as well as the NJPN as a whole.
It is very hard to be hopeful when all around us is doom and gloom.
This Saturday we awoke to the news that Venezuela has been
attacked by the US, and that the Venezuelan President and his wife
have been captured. What repercussions that will bring on the
international stage, who knows. (in the Peace Section below you will
find a link to Pax Christi International’s Statement condemning the action).
When I went to look something up on my internet search engine during the week, a headline offered suggestions as to who were going to be the main players in World War 3 and where the most likely places that it would start were going to be. I couldn’t read it, mainly because I tend to do an impression of an ostrich in thinking about this – if I stick my head in the sand, it may never happen.
Going back to the above quote from John:1, the National Justice and
Peace Network, along with our partner organisations and the people
that surround us, need to be shining the light, and being that light in the darkness. We may not always feel hopeful, but we can certainly
highlight the campaigns, and be involved, where that light needs to be shone.
Please shine that light with us in 2026! May the New Year bring us
peace, happiness and love as we journey forward with hope.
God bless,
Sharon
The full eBulletin can be read by clicking the below link;
